Optimal Ventilation Control in Complex Urban Tunnels with Multi-Point Pollutant Discharge

We propose an optimal ventilation control model for complex urban vehicular tunnels with distributed pollutant discharge points. The control problem is formulated as a nonlinear integer program that aims to minimize ventilation energy cost while meeting multiple air quality control requirements inside the tunnel and at discharge points. Based on the steady-state solutions to tunnel aerodynamics equations, we propose a reduced form model for air velocities as explicit functions of ventilation decision variables and traffic density. A compact parameterization of this model helps to show that tunnel airflows can be estimated using standard linear regression techniques. The steady-state pollutant dispersion model is then incorporated for the derivation of optimal pollutant discharge control strategies. A case study of a new urban tunnel in Hangzhou, China demonstrates that the scheduling of fan operations based on the proposed optimization model can effectively achieve different air quality control objectives under varying traffic intensity.U.S. Department of Transportation 69A355174711

Traffic Flow Forecasting for Road Tunnel Using PSO-GPR Algorithm with Combined Kernel Function

With the rapid development of long or extra-long highway tunnel, accurate and reliable methods and techniques to forecast traffic flow for road tunnel are urgently needed to improve the ventilation efficiency and saving energy. This paper presents a new hybrid Gaussian process regression (GPR) optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) for coping with the forecasting of the uncertain, nonlinear, and complex traffic flow for road tunnel. In this proposed coupling approach, the PSO algorithm is employed to overcome the disadvantages of too strong dependence of optimization effect on initial value and easy falling into local optimum of the traditional conjugate gradient algorithm and accurately search the optimal hyperparameters of the GPR method, and the GPR model simulates the internal uncertainties and dynamic feature of tunnel traffic flow. The predicted results indicate that the proposed PSO-GPR algorithm with different kernel function is able to predict traffic flow for road tunnel with a higher degree of accuracy. The PSO-GPR-CK is effective in boosting the forecasting accuracy in comparison with the single kernel function and is worth promoting in the field of traffic flow forecasting for road tunnel to improve the ventilation efficiency

Procedures and Methodologies for the Control and Improvement of Energy-Environmental Quality in Construction

This Special Issue aims at providing the state-of-the-art on procedures and methodologies developed to improve energy and environmental performance through building renovation. We are greatly thankful to our colleagues building physics experts, building technology researchers, and urban environment scholars who contributed to this Special Issue, for sharing their original works in the field

5 European & African Conference on Wind Engineering

The 5th European-African Conference of Wind Engineering is hosted in Florence, Tuscany, the city and the region where, in the early 15th century, pioneers moved the first steps, laying down the foundation stones of Mechanics and Applied Sciences (including fluid mechanics). These origins are well reflected by the astonishing visionary and revolutionary studies of Leonardo Da Vinci, whose kaleidoscopic genius intended the human being to become able to fly even 500 years ago… This is why the Organising Committee has decided to pay tribute to such a Genius by choosing Leonardo's "flying sphere" as the brand of 5th EACWE

Proceedings of the COST Action TU1403 : Adaptive Facades Network Final Conference

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aesthetics of air

Air envelopes us in sensual effect. It can warm or chill us, it carries smell and sound; breezes stimulate the skin, and wind can literally move us; sometimes we can even taste the air. ‘Aesthetics of Air’ is an investigation into sensual and perceptual atmospheric encounters and how these can lead to a new design typology of air for interior spaces. This research project questions the now widespread practice of controlling and standardizing interior climates, the consequence of which has been the construction of interior spaces that are hermetically sealed from their atmospheric geography and related phenomena, and largely neutralized in terms of any complex physiological experiences. The origins of this practice and the prevailing notion of ‘comfort’ are interrogated and alternative approaches, and relationships to climate and interior atmosphere, contemporary and from across history and cultures, are discussed. The project then proposes how we can form an alternative relationship to interior atmospheres and the design challenges and opportunities such an approach presents. A key hypothesis is that the qualities of air we experience in a ‘pleasurable’ outdoor environment hold important clues as to how we can shape interior atmospheres. Through a series of projects, atmospheric phenomena and our physiological and psychological relationship to atmosphere is explored. Revealed is a surprisingly complex and dynamic atmospheric system of phenomena, which is in constant flux. It is argued that it is precisely these transient and highly randomised phenomena carrying perceptual effect that are the key to designing interior atmospheres, which are sensuous, pleasurable and engender delight

Full Proceedings, 2018

Full conference proceedings for the 2018 International Building Physics Association Conference hosted at Syracuse University